Store clerk helps woman kidnapped by man that led police on chase.

At first, Kelly Harris thought her customer was joking when she told Harris she and her mother were being held hostage by a man waiting just outside the store.

Harris, a 28-year-old gas station clerk, prompted a co-worker to call 911 when she realized the girl was serious.

“She was scared, because he said that if he sees police, that there would be a chase and that they would die,” Harris said.

Harris rang up Shana Davidson’s order twice to stall, saying she made a mistake the first time.

By the time Davidson was leaving to get back in the car, police had arrived.

Her kidnapper fled with her mother and another woman in the car, police say.

Kidnapping, chase, crash

The events spurred a wild ride through Gastonia, which started with an assault and ended with a hostage situation, high speed chase and crash on U.S. 321.

The highway was shut down for several hours near the I-85 intersection while police cleared the area. Several homes lost power.

One woman involved in the crash is still in serious condition.

Gastonia Police charged Fred Byrd, of 107 S. Broad St., Gastonia, with three counts of kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, malicious conduct by prisoner, flee/elude arrest by motor vehicle and reckless driving to endanger, all of which are felonies. He was also charged with simple assault and assault on a female, both misdemeanors.

Byrd is in Gaston County Jail with a $300,000 secured bond.

Assault on Fourth Avenue

It all began when Byrd asked two acquaintances for a ride, said Detective Mike Butts with Gastonia Police. Robin Gaye Davidson and her daughter, Shana Alexis Davidson, got into Robin Davidson’s 2002 Ford with Byrd as a passenger.

Byrd then turned on them with a large folding hunting knife, threatened the pair and ordered them to drive, according to arrest records.

He was looking for Pamela Suzette Smart, a woman police believe had been in a relationship with Byrd.

Police say he and Smart had a disagreement over a cellphone and money.

Investigators allege that, in search of Smart, Byrd made Robin Davidson and her daughter drive to the home of a man named Rufus Hawkins.

Smart was in serious condition at CaroMont Regional Medical Center as of Friday afternoon.

“I’m just glad that they’re OK,” Harris said. “I’m just happy that I could help.”

In addition to his most recent charges, Byrd was arrested March 27 for simple assault, two counts of assault on a female, injury to personal property and felony larceny of a motor vehicle. He was released on a $2,000 secured bond April 3.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or at Twitter.com/Lbaheri.